Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building with mineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

Hi folks,

My recently deceased mother in laws house is in the process of 'being looked
at by me' and due renovation.

A few years ago she had a grant for cavity wall insulation ( CWI ) and it
was installed ( 82 yo and disabled ).

The installation used a blown in mineral wool type of insulation.

The property is about 100 years old.

On the front wall about 5 feet above ground level there is internally a damp
patch prevoiusly not identified - behind furnishings - and it's not drying
out. There are a few other damp patches here and there above the 1 metre
damp proof course fault boundary. Possibly external mortar pointing also.

External mortar pointing/gutter downpipe leak in that area of the wall was
found to be substandard and is now fixed - but it's still not drying out
after 3-4 weeks.

What is the possibilty that the mineral wool insulation has become sodden in
the area and - given the lack of ventilation in the cavity due to CWI - will
take an age to dry out.

Today I have drilled the damp wall in 2 places from the inside to try to
recover some insulation to test for soddenness - can't recover any
insulation to test - just couldn't hook it out.

Maybe I need to remove a brick on the inside to gain access.

Is the mineral wool insulation they use water repellant or can it become
sodden and retain the dampness for long periods.

What are the implications for other external walls in the property being
that I've identified several areas externally where pointing is defficient.

I have nightmares of sodden CWI in various pointing deficient areas that
would be verry difficult to fix without removal of the CWI.

Should mineral wool CW insulation actually have been used in this situation
where external pointing was in some need.and would have been obvious at the
time it was installed.

I know there are other possibilities for the damp in other areas but in THIS
area the wall above is not damp.

How to fix it - thats the question.

Recommendations welcome.

TIA - It's me

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building withmineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

On 20 Jul, 00:58, "ItsMe" wrote:
Hi folks,

My recently deceased mother in laws house is in the process of 'being looked
at by me' and due renovation.

A few years ago she had a grant for cavity wall insulation ( CWI ) and it
was installed ( 82 yo and disabled ).

The installation used a blown in mineral wool type of insulation.

The property is about 100 years old.

On the front wall about 5 feet above ground level there is internally a damp
patch prevoiusly not identified - behind furnishings - and it's not drying
out. There are a few other damp patches here and there above the 1 metre
damp proof course fault boundary. Possibly external mortar pointing also.

External mortar pointing/gutter downpipe leak in that area of the wall was
found to be substandard and is now fixed - but it's still not drying out
after 3-4 weeks.

What is the possibilty that the mineral wool insulation has become sodden in
the area and - given the lack of ventilation in the cavity due to CWI - will
take an age to dry out.

Today I have drilled the damp wall in 2 places from the inside to try to
recover some insulation to test for soddenness - can't recover any
insulation to test - just couldn't hook it out.

Maybe I need to remove a brick on the inside to gain access.

Is the mineral wool insulation they use water repellant or can it become
sodden and retain the dampness for long periods.

What are the implications for other external walls in the property being
that I've identified several areas externally where pointing is defficient.

I have nightmares of sodden CWI in various pointing deficient areas that
would be verry difficult to fix without removal of the CWI.

Should mineral wool CW insulation actually have been used in this situation
where external pointing was in some need.and would have been obvious at the
time it was installed.

I know there are other possibilities for the damp in other areas but in THIS
area the wall above is not damp.

How to fix it - thats the question.

Recommendations welcome.

TIA - It's me

It's an old house to have a cavity wall.
I would start by getting some damp repellant solution from B&Q and
slapping it on the outside brickwork to cover the whole of the damp
area. Then get a dehumidifier on the inside. If it dries out and
stays dry, it proves the damp is coming through the wall.
I did this on a house with a similar problem which had solid walls. It
is a quick job requiring no painting style accuracy, and it kept the
house dry for several years. The permanant solution after that was to
have the wall pointed.

Tony

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building withmineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

ItsMe wrote:
Hi folks,

My recently deceased mother in laws house is in the process of 'being looked
at by me' and due renovation.

A few years ago she had a grant for cavity wall insulation ( CWI ) and it
was installed ( 82 yo and disabled ).

The installation used a blown in mineral wool type of insulation.

The property is about 100 years old.

On the front wall about 5 feet above ground level there is internally a damp
patch prevoiusly not identified - behind furnishings - and it's not drying
out. There are a few other damp patches here and there above the 1 metre
damp proof course fault boundary. Possibly external mortar pointing also.

External mortar pointing/gutter downpipe leak in that area of the wall was
found to be substandard and is now fixed - but it's still not drying out
after 3-4 weeks.

What is the possibilty that the mineral wool insulation has become sodden in
the area and - given the lack of ventilation in the cavity due to CWI - will
take an age to dry out.

Today I have drilled the damp wall in 2 places from the inside to try to
recover some insulation to test for soddenness - can't recover any
insulation to test - just couldn't hook it out.

Maybe I need to remove a brick on the inside to gain access.

Is the mineral wool insulation they use water repellant or can it become
sodden and retain the dampness for long periods.

What are the implications for other external walls in the property being
that I've identified several areas externally where pointing is defficient.

I have nightmares of sodden CWI in various pointing deficient areas that
would be verry difficult to fix without removal of the CWI.

Should mineral wool CW insulation actually have been used in this situation
where external pointing was in some need.and would have been obvious at the
time it was installed.

I know there are other possibilities for the damp in other areas but in THIS
area the wall above is not damp.

How to fix it - thats the question.

Recommendations welcome.

TIA - It's me






3-4 weeks isn't very long. I'd check it out again at the end of the summer

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building with mineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

Draw a pencil line around damp patch if it starts to dry ,it will be visible
as it shrinks back.
I would not suspect the insulation as the problem more likely a defective
wall tie in this area.
You have solved the problem of the damp source so time and good ventilation
should do the rest.
If you are selling thew house ,couple of coats of a stain block and repaint
should solve immediate problem

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building withmineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

Use a dehumidifier and wait *a lot* longer. Think seasons not weeks.

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building with mineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

wrote in message
...
Use a dehumidifier and wait *a lot* longer. Think seasons not weeks.


After my basement flooded I was advised that it took a month per inch to dry
out a solid wall, mine are three feet thick, so they could be damp for a
while!


--
Keith

** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building with mineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

ItsMe wrote:
Hi folks,

My recently deceased mother in laws house is in the process of 'being
looked at by me' and due renovation.

A few years ago she had a grant for cavity wall insulation ( CWI )
and it was installed ( 82 yo and disabled ).

The installation used a blown in mineral wool type of insulation.

The property is about 100 years old.

On the front wall about 5 feet above ground level there is internally
a damp patch prevoiusly not identified - behind furnishings - and
it's not drying out. There are a few other damp patches here and
there above the 1 metre damp proof course fault boundary. Possibly
external mortar pointing also.
External mortar pointing/gutter downpipe leak in that area of the
wall was found to be substandard and is now fixed - but it's still
not drying out after 3-4 weeks.

What is the possibilty that the mineral wool insulation has become
sodden in the area and - given the lack of ventilation in the cavity
due to CWI - will take an age to dry out.

Today I have drilled the damp wall in 2 places from the inside to try
to recover some insulation to test for soddenness - can't recover any
insulation to test - just couldn't hook it out.

Maybe I need to remove a brick on the inside to gain access.

Is the mineral wool insulation they use water repellant or can it
become sodden and retain the dampness for long periods.

What are the implications for other external walls in the property
being that I've identified several areas externally where pointing is
defficient.
I have nightmares of sodden CWI in various pointing deficient areas
that would be verry difficult to fix without removal of the CWI.

Should mineral wool CW insulation actually have been used in this
situation where external pointing was in some need.and would have
been obvious at the time it was installed.

I know there are other possibilities for the damp in other areas but
in THIS area the wall above is not damp.

How to fix it - thats the question.

Recommendations welcome.

TIA - It's me

As others have said, it takes months to dry out brickwork.

It's unlikely that the insulation is wet because it's treated with a
silicone waterproofing agent during manufacture, this however, doesn't stop
water from tracking across the top of it if any voids are in the insulation,
which is why all walls have to be filled right up to the top - if any voids
/are/ left, the water can run down the inside of the exterior brickwork and
on top of the insulation and into the interior brickwork, if the insulation
goes all the way up without any voids, the water continues it's course down
into the foundations.

If you really want to get to the bottom of it quickly and don't wish to
wait, simply take down the section of interior brickwork and have a look
inside - if there is a void, fill the area with cavity batt insulation and
brick up with dry bricks and plaster over.

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building withmineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

On Jul 20, 12:58*am, "ItsMe" wrote:
Hi folks,

My recently deceased mother in laws house is in the process of 'being looked
at by me' and due renovation.

A few years ago she had a grant for cavity wall insulation ( CWI ) and it
was installed ( 82 yo and disabled ).

The installation used a blown in mineral wool type of insulation.

The property is about 100 years old.

On the front wall about 5 feet above ground level there is internally a damp
patch prevoiusly not identified - behind furnishings - and it's not drying
out. There are a few other damp patches here and there above the 1 metre
damp proof course fault boundary. Possibly external mortar pointing also.

External mortar pointing/gutter downpipe leak in that area of the wall was
found to be substandard and is now fixed - but it's still not drying out
after 3-4 weeks.

What is the possibilty that the mineral wool insulation has become sodden in
the area and - given the lack of ventilation in the cavity due to CWI - will
take an age to dry out.

Today I have drilled the damp wall in 2 places from the inside to try to
recover some insulation to test for soddenness - can't recover any
insulation to test - just couldn't hook it out.

Maybe I need to remove a brick on the inside to gain access.

Is the mineral wool insulation they use water repellant or can it become
sodden and retain the dampness for long periods.

What are the implications for other external walls in the property being
that I've identified several areas externally where pointing is defficient.

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building with mineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

Hi again,

Thanks to all respondents so far - especially NT and his/her period property
forum link - very informative and recommended - lots for me to read on
there.
Links also to other informative sites on there.

I marked out the extent of the damp on the wall 3 -4 weeks ago following
downpipe replacement and that's how I know it's not drying out though thanks
for the tip.

I have obviously underestimated the time required to dry out damp internal
brickwork. 3 - 4 weeks is not nearly long enough.

There is no doubt that this is a cavity wall - marked my drill shaft to a
brick's depth and beyond that found a void to the external leaf - ie: the
cavity.

Reassuring to know that mineral wool is is damp resistant though the
question of voids in the wool has me a bit worried.

Other recommendations and links welcome.

Main reason for THIS post is to thank respondents. THANK YOU ALL.

Regards - Its me

I know I'm top posting but I always thing its easier to read the recent
threads.

wrote in message
...
On Jul 20, 12:58 am, "ItsMe" wrote:
Hi folks,

My recently deceased mother in laws house is in the process of 'being
looked
at by me' and due renovation.

A few years ago she had a grant for cavity wall insulation ( CWI ) and it
was installed ( 82 yo and disabled ).

The installation used a blown in mineral wool type of insulation.

The property is about 100 years old.

On the front wall about 5 feet above ground level there is internally a
damp
patch prevoiusly not identified - behind furnishings - and it's not drying
out. There are a few other damp patches here and there above the 1 metre
damp proof course fault boundary. Possibly external mortar pointing also.

External mortar pointing/gutter downpipe leak in that area of the wall was
found to be substandard and is now fixed - but it's still not drying out
after 3-4 weeks.

What is the possibilty that the mineral wool insulation has become sodden
in
the area and - given the lack of ventilation in the cavity due to CWI -
will
take an age to dry out.

Today I have drilled the damp wall in 2 places from the inside to try to
recover some insulation to test for soddenness - can't recover any
insulation to test - just couldn't hook it out.

Maybe I need to remove a brick on the inside to gain access.

Is the mineral wool insulation they use water repellant or can it become
sodden and retain the dampness for long periods.

What are the implications for other external walls in the property being
that I've identified several areas externally where pointing is
defficient.

I have nightmares of sodden CWI in various pointing deficient areas that
would be verry difficult to fix without removal of the CWI.

Should mineral wool CW insulation actually have been used in this
situation
where external pointing was in some need.and would have been obvious at
the
time it was installed.

I know there are other possibilities for the damp in other areas but in
THIS
area the wall above is not damp.

How to fix it - thats the question.

Recommendations welcome.

TIA - It's me



PP damp faq:
http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpB...pic.php?t=6777

The short version is that once you've sorted the pointing and any
other issues letting water in, its self fixing - but slow.


NT

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building withmineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

PP damp faq:
http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpB...pic.php?t=6777

Seems to be just a series of edicts from your goodself

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building with mineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

I'm saying this ever so nicely - just in case you wondered.

There are no posts by me on those sites Stuart - I've only learned about
them since posting this thread.

Don't know why you think posts there are from my 'goodself'.
Or have I misunderstood your post.

May post there in future though - depends on the ongoing damp problem(s) I
have.

I am not NT nor the DampMan in disguise.
My degree of relative ignorance on drying times should make that obvious.

I'm requesting advice relating to my damp problem and other respondents
shouldn't be dissuaded from replying based on Stuart's post.

I'm not into inflating a 'damp related expertise' ego that I don't have.

Just a thought

ItsMe

don't want other respondents to be 'put off'.



"stuart noble" wrote in message
...

PP damp faq:
http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpB...pic.php?t=6777

Seems to be just a series of edicts from your goodself

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building with mineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

ItsMe wrote:
I'm saying this ever so nicely - just in case you wondered.

There are no posts by me on those sites Stuart - I've only learned
about them since posting this thread.

Don't know why you think posts there are from my 'goodself'.
Or have I misunderstood your post.

May post there in future though - depends on the ongoing damp
problem(s) I have.

I am not NT nor the DampMan in disguise.
My degree of relative ignorance on drying times should make that
obvious.
I'm requesting advice relating to my damp problem and other
respondents shouldn't be dissuaded from replying based on Stuart's
post.
I'm not into inflating a 'damp related expertise' ego that I don't
have.
Just a thought

ItsMe

don't want other respondents to be 'put off'.

No one said those posts were from you - he said they were from meow2222

Damp patch 5 feet up wall ( not drying ), older building withmineral wool type Cavity Wall Insulation installed in receny years.
 

On Jul 21, 9:23*am, stuart noble wrote:
PP damp faq:
http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpB...pic.php?t=6777

Seems to be just a series of edicts from your goodself

FWIW the thread is a quick summary of the position of the main
societies of expertise in the PP (period property) field. Yes the
treatment of damp in PPs continues to be controversial in some
respects. If you want to get into the subject deeper, each point made
in that FAQ is discussed in much more depth on the pp forum, you only
need ask and read. Some of course never do that - what's new.


NT

Link to more info for anyone with similar problem
 

If anyone has similar problems here is a link to some very useful
information.

http://www.insulateonline.com/pdf/Wh...-Min%20Fib.pdf

Guess it was a pity she had the cavity walls insulated in this way.

Kingspan's ( never previously heard of them ) website also has lots of info
regarding remedy.

ItsMe


"ItsMe" wrote in message
...
Hi folks,

My recently deceased mother in laws house is in the process of 'being
looked at by me' and due renovation.

A few years ago she had a grant for cavity wall insulation ( CWI ) and it
was installed ( 82 yo and disabled ).

The installation used a blown in mineral wool type of insulation.

The property is about 100 years old.

On the front wall about 5 feet above ground level there is internally a
damp patch prevoiusly not identified - behind furnishings - and it's not
drying out. There are a few other damp patches here and there above the 1
metre damp proof course fault boundary. Possibly external mortar pointing
also.

External mortar pointing/gutter downpipe leak in that area of the wall was
found to be substandard and is now fixed - but it's still not drying out
after 3-4 weeks.

What is the possibilty that the mineral wool insulation has become sodden
in the area and - given the lack of ventilation in the cavity due to CWI -
will take an age to dry out.

Today I have drilled the damp wall in 2 places from the inside to try to
recover some insulation to test for soddenness - can't recover any
insulation to test - just couldn't hook it out.

Maybe I need to remove a brick on the inside to gain access.

Is the mineral wool insulation they use water repellant or can it become
sodden and retain the dampness for long periods.

What are the implications for other external walls in the property being
that I've identified several areas externally where pointing is
defficient.

I have nightmares of sodden CWI in various pointing deficient areas that
would be verry difficult to fix without removal of the CWI.

Should mineral wool CW insulation actually have been used in this
situation where external pointing was in some need.and would have been
obvious at the time it was installed.

I know there are other possibilities for the damp in other areas but in
THIS area the wall above is not damp.

How to fix it - thats the question.

Recommendations welcome.

TIA - It's me